Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow. New York City is on ‘high alert’ after reporting 100 cases of a rare inflammatory disease apparently tied to COVID-19 in children. The city recently began reporting rising cases of paediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome, an illness that officials say is similar to toxic shock or Kawasaki disease, with symptoms including a fever and abdominal pain and which ‘appears to be linked to an immune response to COVID-19,’ The New York Times reports. City Mayor Bill de Blasio, in a press briefing on Thursday said, "We are now on high alert in addressing the syndrome after the number of confirmed cases of paediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome in the city has reached 100.” “Among those cases, 55 children have tested positive for COVID-19 or the antibodies”, de Blasio said, “and one child has died.” Two other children have also died from the illness in New York State, according to the Times. De Blasio had reported 82 cases of the syndrome in the city. These developments continue to be ‘really troubling’ after it was previously thought that "children seemed to have very little effect from this disease," de Blasio said. He urged parents to call their doctor immediately if a child had a persistent fever, a rash, abdominal pain, vomiting, and especially a combination of these symptoms.
Understanding 'Multi-system Disorder' Meaning
The question asks for the meaning of the term 'multi-system disorder' as mentioned in the passage concerning a rare inflammatory disease observed in children.
Decoding 'Multi-system Disorder'
To understand what a 'multi-system disorder' is, let's break down the phrase:
- Multi: This prefix means "many" or "more than one".
- System: In biology and medicine, a system refers to a group of organs or parts that work together to perform a specific function in the body. Examples include the circulatory system (heart and blood vessels), the nervous system (brain, spinal cord, nerves), or the respiratory system (lungs).
- Disorder: This term refers to an illness, disease, or abnormal condition that disrupts normal functioning.
Therefore, a 'multi-system disorder' is a condition that affects, or involves, multiple different body systems or disrupts many body functions.
Evaluating the Options Provided
Let's look at the given options to see which one best defines a 'multi-system disorder' based on this understanding:
- Option 1: it affects a large number of people
This describes the prevalence of a disease – how common it is. The term 'multi-system' doesn't refer to the number of people affected, but rather to the parts of the body involved.
- Option 2: it requires many tests
This relates to the complexity of diagnosing or managing the illness. While a condition affecting multiple systems might need many tests, the term 'multi-system' itself defines the scope of the body's involvement, not the diagnostic process.
- Option 3: it affects many body functions
This option accurately reflects the meaning derived from breaking down the term. It correctly states that the disorder impacts several different body systems and, consequently, their specific functions.
- Option 4: there are many cases
Similar to Option 1, this focuses on the quantity of occurrences (cases). The word 'multi-system' does not relate to the number of cases but specifies that multiple body systems are impacted.
Final Explanation for the Disorder
The passage describes the disease as a 'multi-system disorder'. Based on the meaning of the words, this indicates that the illness impacts various body systems and interferes with their normal operations. Option 3 correctly captures this meaning by stating that it affects many body functions.
Similar Questions
Which of these statements is NOT true?
The biggest consolation of having a guide dog is that it will:
Who was the narrator’s first guide dog?
What does ‘canine partner’ refer to?
The main theme of the passage is:
It can be said that children are suffering from the disease if they have the following symptoms:
a) Pain in the stomach
b) Fever that does not go
c) Toxic shock
d) Vomiting
e) Pain in the whole body
- When the City Mayor says, "We are now on high alert in addressing the syndrome”, he means:
- The word ‘paediatric’ in the passage refers to:
- It was previously thought that ‘children seemed to have very little effect from this disease’. ‘This disease’ refers to:
- Which of the following is NOT an earlier Italian civilisation as mentioned in the passage?
Important Questions from Reading Comprehension
What is the meaning of ‘intrigued’?
What are ice shelves?
What are icebergs?
When the iceberg turns upside down, it appears ________.
The use of science in its simple form has helped man to ____________
